Vietnam War Timeline: 1955

January

7th

French propose a reworded draft of the Collins-Ely memorandum (of Dec 13th 1954)

20th

General Collins, U.S. Special Representative in Vietnam, reports to the National
Security Council (NSC) that Diem
is the best available Prime Minister to lead Vietnam in the struggle against Communism
and that his government has a reasonable chance of success if it has firm U.S. support
and guidance and active French cooperation

24th

Collins tells the NSC that if the recommendations of his report were carried through,
there was at least a 50% chance of saving South Vietnam from the Communists

February

1st

Acting Secretary of State, Herbert Hoover Jr, informs the French Embassy that U.S.
will accept the French revision to the Collins-Ely memorandum provided that:

General Ely sends a letter to General Collins stating that the
assignment of U.S. and French personnel to the Vietnamese Armed Forces will be under
the direct of Chief MAAG acting under authority of the Commander-in-Chief. As the
efficiency of the Vietnamese Armed Forces increases, the number of U.S. and French
advisors and trainers will be decreased.

General Ely sends a letter to Diem which includes the phrase that
"The Armed Forces of Viet-Nam will be completely autonomous by July 1, 1955; specifically
that all units of these armed forces will be staffed and commanded by Vietnamese
officers."

The United Front issues a 5-day declaration calling on Diem to form a government
of national union

26th

The United Front's ultimatum deadline passes

29th

Defense Minister Ho Thong Minh resigns in protest against Diem's refusal to consult
the cabinet over his plans to fire Lai Van Sang as Chief of National Police and
replace him with Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Le.

General Gambiez, Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of French Forces in Indochina,
mediates a truce between the Binh Xuyen forces and Diem's government
After multiple resignations from the cabinet General Collins informs the State Department
that Diem is practically operating a one-man government that is unlikely to last
long. He suggests that Tran Van Do and Dr. Quat be considered as alternatives to
Diem.

April

1st

Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, tells General Collins "…we do not think
that a switch (from Diem) would be desirable or practicable at this time."

7th

General Collins and General Ely, Commander of French Forces in Indochina, agree
that Diem is incapable of inspiring unity and must be replaced.

13th

Diem tells Collins he is considering forming an interim government pending general
elections for a constituent assembly in two months time

16th

John Foster Dulles informs General Collins that he must travel to Washington for
consultations for it to be practical to give any U.S. commitment to a program replacing
Diem

18th

MAAG Chief O'Daniel recommends
to General Collins a reduction in the Vietnamese Armed Forces from 196,000 men to
150,000 by the end of 1955. These forces would be divided into 4 field divisions
and 6 light divisions.
(On December 13th 1954 Collins and Ely had recommended that the VNAF be reduced
to 90,000 men)

26th

Diem fires Lai Van Sang as Direct General of National Police and Surete and replaces
him with Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Le. Sang declares that he will remain in his post as
he can only be removed by Bao Dai.

27th

After meeting with Collins, Dulles informs the Paris and Saigon embassy's:
"The U.S. will have to maintain a position of full support for Diem until and unless
Vietnamese leaders develop alternate proposals which Bao Dai would support."

28th

Edward Lansdale, head of the Saigon Military Mission, sends a telegram to Washington
arguing that the Diem government represents a better chance for success than any
other it will be possible to form in South Vietnam.
Fighting erupts between the Binh Xuyen forces and the Vietnamese National Army (VNA)
in the Saigon-Cholon area. The VNA drive the Binh Xuyen forces out of Cholon.
Bao Dai issues a decree naming General Nguyen Can Vy as Supreme Commander of the
VNA and empowers him to take all necessary measures to avoid armed conflict between
the national army, the police forces and sects.

29th

The Cabinet unanimously counsels Diem not to transfer military command to General
Vy

30th

A gathering of 200 people in Saigon Town Hall calling themselves the "General Assembly
of the democratic and revolutionary forces of the nation" demand:

Bao Dai's abdication

A new government under Diem

The withdrawal of the French Expeditionary Corps (FEC)

Elections for a national assembly

The General Assembly elects a "Revolutionary Committee" of 33 members (dominated
by Cao Dai Generals Trinh Minh The and Nguyen Thanh Phuong and by Hoa Hao General
Ngo), which submits their demands to Diem.

May

1st

Following Diem’s victory over the Binh Xuyen and the rise in his political standing,
Secretary John Foster Dulles tells General Collins that the U.S. is supporting the
Diem Government
The General Assembly of Democratic Revolutionary Forces circulates resolutions charging
the French with instigating the Binh Xuyen "rebellion" and calling for the withdrawal
of the FEC

4th

Diem admits to General Collins that some members of the Revolutionary Committee
had once been in the Viet Minh, but that they were no longer affiliated

8th

Tripartite (U.S., U.K and France) talks on Vietnam begin in Paris

11th

After lengthy discussion John Foster Dulles manages to get French Prime Minster
Faure to accept that Diem must be supported. They also agree that from now on U.S.
and French policies no longer have any formal engagements to each other.

15th

General Lawton Collins leaves Vietnam

June

2nd

General Paul Ely, French High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, leaves Veitnam

11th

Saigon embassy informs the State Department that the latest MAAG recommendation
of reducing VNAF to 170,000 by July 1956 and to 150,000 by end of 1956 will cost
$336 million. The embassy / United States Operations Mission (USOM) recommends a
reduction to 100,000 men by the end of 1955 at a cost of $180 million.

July

14th

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam notifies the State Department that the embassy now concurs
with O’Daniel’s position that the VNAF should be reduced to only 150,000 by July
1st 1956 and for the rest of the year. This 150,000 force strength would provide
four field divisions of 8500 each, six light divisions of 5500 each and 13 light
infantry regiments.

16th

Diem makes a radio address stating that South Vietnam was not a signatory of, and
therefore not bound by, the Geneva Accords and that the necessary conditions for
free elections did not exist in the North

19th

Pham Van Dong, DRV Minister of Foreign Affairs, sends a latter to Diem and Bao Dai
proposing joint consultations "as provided for by the Geneva Agreements, at a place
agreeable to both sides, on the Vietnamese territory, in order to discuss the problem
of reunification of our country by means of free general elections all over Viet
Nam."

20th

It is estimated that approximately 900,000 civilians have migrated from North to
South Vietnam since the signing of the Geneva Agreement, in addition to the departure
of 190,000 troops from the French Expeditionary Corps. 130,000 members of the Viet
Minh are estimated to have moved North across the 17th Parallel.

August

9th

Republic of Vietnam broadcasts a reply to Dong’s letter reiterating previous statements
that South Vietnam was not bound by the Geneva Accords and that conditions for free
elections do not exist in the North

12th

Walter Robertson, Asst. Secretary for Far East Affairs, sends a telegram to General
White, Director of the Office of Military Assistance Programs, stating:
"In order to avoid inevitable accusations of purposefully trying to sabotage the
Geneva Settlement, it is believed United States policy with regard to MAAG personnel
should be such that the number of military personnel actually present in Indochina
at any given time should not exceed 342 persons, the number called for in the table
of organization at the time the Geneva Accord was signed.

"Military personnel, including mobile training teams assigned on temporary duty
mentioned in your memorandum of April 25, 1955, would appear to fall within the
overall numerical limitation. Military personnel not actually present in Viet-Nam,
whether carried on Saigon rolls or not, need not be charged against the 342 maximum.
Replacement overlaps which result in personnel excess over the ceiling should not
be encouraged. However, overlaps when considered essential to the effectiveness
of MAAG operations and if held to the shortest possible duration might be justified.

"While there may develop some flexibility in the interpretation of the Geneva Accord
with respect to United States military personnel, since such personnel is not specifically
covered by the Agreement and the United States is not a signatory, it is believed
desirable that we pursue at this time a policy which accommodates the spirit of
the Geneva Settlement."

30th

John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State, publicly supports Diem's view that conditions
in the North are not ripe for free elections

September

27th

The State Department approves O'Daniel's plan for a VNAF force strength of 150,000

28th

Saigon embassy reports that the Vietnamese Government plans two national referenda.
The first, to be held on October 23, to decide whether Bao Dai should be deposed
and Diem designated Chief of State. The second, to be held on November 27, to decide
on a constitution prepared by Diem's government for establishing a strong presidential
system. The two referenda are to be followed by direct elections for a National
Assembly.

October

23rd

Voting begins in the Diem-Bao Dai referendum

24th

Lt. General Samuel T. Williams ("Hanging Sam") replaces Major General John O'Daniel
as Chief of MAAG-Indochina

26th

Biu Van Thinh, the Minister of Interior, announces that with 98% of the 6-million
votes, Diem becomes President of the new Republic of Vietnam and that Bao Dai is
dethroned.

November

1st

MAAG-Indochina renamed MAAG-Vietnam

December

9st

The Joint Chiefs of Staff inform the Secretary of Defense "…The progressive withdrawal
by the French of their military personnel without replacement and the inability
of the United States to augment the MAAG personnel has created a critical situation
both in carrying out redistribution of MDAP equipment and in the training of Vietnamese
forces."

Diem terminates existing economic and financial agreements with France and calls
upon France to denounce the Geneva agreements and break relations with Hanoi. Soon
thereafter, he withdraws South Vietnamese representatives from the French Union
Assembly.